ESL 21A: English Fundamentals 1
Santa Monica College • Spring 2011 • Section 2087
Mon & Wed, 9:30 am - 10:50 am • room ESL 105
Instructor: Andrea Spector
Email: spector_andrea@smc.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ESL 21A is a 3 unit, 3 hour per week high intermediate communicative writing course for non-native speakers.
ESL 21A is the first part of the ESL 21A/B sequence.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to do the following:
Writing:
1. construct and revise a variety of sentence types within paragraphs
2. plan, compose, and revise multi-paragraph essays (built upon a thesis statement, supporting body paragraphs,
transitional sentences, and a conclusion)
3. respond to questions with paragraphs or essays under time constraints
4. paraphrase and summarize information from lectures and readings
5. demonstrate use of appropriate academic vocabulary in paragraphs and essays
6. write both short and extended definitions
7. begin to document sources
Reading:
1. use table of contents, titles, headings, and indices to preview an academic text
2. use skimming and scanning to locate main ideas and specific details in academic texts
3. evaluate the use of cohesive markers; distinguish word forms and their functions in a sentence
4. identify purpose, bias, audience, tone, and register
5. access articles online
Grammar:
Use the following in speaking/writing
1. verb tense and aspect (active and passive voice); time shifts, subject/verb agreement
2. clauses (noun, adjective, adverb); reported speech
3. modals in passive and reported speech
4. comparatives, superlatives
Listening and Speaking:
1. discuss information from readings and audio-video tapes in small groups to collect and organize ideas for
writing
2. express and support opinions
3. participate in class discussions
4. give individual presentations
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Given a prompt and under time constraints, plan, outline, compose, and revise essays. The essays employ a
variety of sentence types, appropriate vocabulary, and accurate grammar and use paraphrased and summarized
information from outside sources that are documented.
As assessed by: a writing task in which a student is given a prompt and, within one class session (1 hour 20
minutes), plans, briefly outlines, composes, and revises an essay referring to a reading previously assigned as
homework. The essay is scored with a rubric for content, organization, and language.
2. Identify main ideas and specific details in texts that explore contemporary issues in the areas of economics,
politics, ecology, and culture, and determine appropriateness for use in writing.
As assessed by: student annotation of authentic discourse (textbooks) for main ideas and specific details that
can be used to help explain and support a thesis in a subsequent essay.
3. Analyze and compare at least two interconnected systems (e.g., cultural, economic, political, and/or social)
outside the US and discuss their global consequences.
As assessed by: an essay employing analysis, comparison, and cause-effect rhetorical structures scored with a
rubric.
TEXTS:
Required:
1) Smith-Palinkas and Croghan-Ford: Key Concepts 2 Reading and Writing; ISBN: 978-0-618-47462-2
2)Hacker: Writers Reference Packet 6th edition with 2009 MLA & Extra Help for ESL Writers, ISBN: 0-31264396-9
3) An English-English Dictionary (paper) (Longman or Oxford recommended)
4) Additional readings from periodicals (to be assigned). You may be responsible for printing these articles.
Optional:
5) Solomon and Shelley: Key Concepts 2 Listening and Speaking; ISBN: 978-0-618-38241-5
OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS:
1) Access to a computer with a word-processing program and a printer (to type some written
assignments and to use eCompanion and the internet)
2) An SMC computing account and an active email (You MUST check daily.)
3) At least 5 LARGE Bluebooks, available at the SMC Bookstore.
4) Pens, pencils, eraser, highlighters, 8½ x 11 lined paper, stapler, etc.
5) Loose-leaf paper and a binder or spiral notebooks for note-taking. Buy 10.5” x 8” College
Ruled paper. You MUST keep all papers
GRADING AND ASSIGNMENTS:
Your grade for the course will be based on the following:
In-class writing 1st drafts
34%
(Paragraph +Essays)
In class writing Revisions
16%
Annotations
3%
Summaries
7%
Homework/Group Assignments 5%
Quizzes
8%
Threaded discussions
4%
Oral Presentation
3%
Final Exam
20%
Total
100%
In-class writing and revisions (50% of total grade)
Writing assignments (1 paragraph and 3 essays) will be written and revised in class. Make sure to bring
bluebooks on these days. Both the original drafts and revisions will be graded. In-class writing may not be
made up without prior arrangements or a documented emergency.
Annotations (3% of total grade)
Some annotations of specific readings will be assigned and must be turned in for a grade.
Summaries (7% of total grade)
Some readings will require summaries that must be turned in for a grade.
Homework (3% of total grade)
 Daily homework consists of extensive reading and summary assignments, grammar/editing exercises,
annotations, and preparation for group assignments. Homework must be 100% complete to receive any
credit. If the homework is not complete, you will receive a 0. Assignments are due at the beginning
of the class period on the day specified.
Group assignments (2% of total grade)
Students will regularly participate in study groups during which you will collectively write outlines,
essay paragraphs, and summaries of articles you have read for homework. Some of this work will be
collected for a grade. All members of the group will receive the same grade More details will be
provided in class. Students are expected to actively participate in group discussions. You are
responsible for being prepared for every class
Quizzes (8% of total grade)
Occasional quizzes will cover listening, grammar, mechanics, terminology and editing skills. There will be no
make-up quizzes.
Threaded discussions (4% of final grade)
Periodically, I will post a discussion question or short writing task on eCompanion for you to complete. You are
also expected to respond to the comments that the student before you has posted. Full credit will not be given
unless you have both provided an original response of your own, as well as a response to another student’s
ideas. More instructions will be posted on eCompanion.
Oral Presentation (3% of final grade)
Groups may be required to make oral presentations based on selected readings or assignments.
If you are absent the day your group makes a presentation, you will receive no credit for the
assignment. Everyone in the group will receive the same score.
Final Exam (20% of total grade)
A final exam will be given at the end of the course. It is not possible to pass the class without taking the final.
Failure to take the final will result in a total failure of the ENTIRE class. No early final exams will be given.
SMC GRADING SCALE:
A (90-100 %)
B (80-89.9 %)
C (70-79.9 %)
D (60-69.9 %)
F (0-59.9 %)
ESL 21B recommended
ESL 21B recommended
ESL 21B and support class(es) recommended
Repeat ESL 21A
Repeat ESL 21A
You may check your current grade at any time by using eCompanion. Be sure that you have an SMC password
and that you log on to eCompanion (go to the SMC home page, click Student Self Service and Corsair Connect).
A demonstration on how to access eCompanion will be given in class.
*Note: ESL 21A may be taken for credit/no credit. This decision, however, must be made at an early point in the
semester. See your counselor for further credit/ transfer guidance.*
STUDYING
Plan to study one to two hours outside of class for every hour in class. Studying includes completing homework
assignments, reviewing work done in class, meeting with a study partner or group, making an appointment with
a tutor, creating flashcards and other study guides, listening to assignments, and practicing new vocabulary in
speaking and writing.
LATENESS:
*Students who arrive late for class or leave early consistently may be dropped. Any student who arrives more
than 10 minutes late will be marked as having half an absence.
*2 instances of unexcused tardiness will result in one recorded absence. If you are late for class, you may miss
your chance to receive credit for homework or you may also miss a quiz.
ATTENDANCE:
*You are responsible for all assignments regardless of whether you are present or not. You must get the phone
number or email of at least three classmates to ask about course assignments and homework when you are
absent. I do not answer email questions about homework when students are absent. It is your responsibility to
contact one of your email contacts.
*You may make up a composition or homework only in the case of a medical emergency with a doctor’s note.
No late assignments are accepted in any other cases unless previously arranged with the instructor.
* Students who miss more than 6 (SIX) hours of class may be dropped by the instructor.
DROPPING THE CLASS:
If you want to drop the class, it is your responsibility to do it yourself. Check the drop deadlines. Failure to drop
may result in an “F.”
TUTORING & SUPPORT SERVICES
* Free tutoring is available in the ESL Center. You may schedule a ½ hour appointment online. You may see a
tutor a maximum of two times a week. Bring in any ESL 21A assignments that you do not understand. Tutors
will not proofread, correct errors, or rewrite sentences. However, they will work with you on your individual
English language problems.
*Students may use computers in the Cayton Center, the Library, the Science Building, or Drescher Hall 203 &
204.
*Academic counselors can be reached in the ISC (434-4217) and in Counseling (434-4210 or 434-4589). See
the counseling homepage for more information.
*Psychological counselors can be reached at 434-4262 or through Student Health.
SUPPORT CLASSES:
ESL 14A
Pronunciation and Spelling
ESL 14B
ESL 15
ESL 16A
ESL 16B
ESL 16C
ESL 20A/B
ESL 23
ESL 28
American Pronunciation
Oral Communication
Articles
Verbs
Clauses
Grammar Workshop (available online as well)
Intermediate Reading Skills
Academic Vocabulary Skills
CLASS RULES:
*No food or drinks are permitted in the classroom (except for water). All cell phones must be shut off during
class. Electronic dictionaries/translators (or any other electronic devices) are not allowed in class.
*You are expected to make every effort to communicate in English during class time. Sitting next to someone
who does not speak your first language will help you accomplish this goal and improve your speaking and
listening.
*Cheating on tests or any other assignment is not tolerated. If you copy someone else’s words on a writing
assignment or homework without an appropriate citation, you will receive a 0. If you talk or copy from someone
during a quiz or test, you will receive a 0. If someone else talks to you, ignore that person to prevent cheating or
getting a 0 on the assignment. See the Honor Code below.
HONOR CODE:
Students must adhere to the SMC Code of Academic Conduct regarding plagiarism and cheating:
“Santa Monica College defines academic dishonesty as the act or assistance in deceiving,
including fraud or deception in an academic exercise. Academic dishonesty includes, but
is not limited to, certain actions not authorized by the instructor or testing officer, such as
using notes or testing aids, allowing someone else to assume one’s identity, falsifying
records, plagiarism, changing answers on a previously scored assignment or exam,
copying, inventing information by any means during an exam. Check the SMC catalog for
additional details, including information on the consequences for academic conduct
violations.”
Students who cheat will be reported to the Admissions and Records Office and will receive a Fail on the
assignment or in the class.